Change in leadership at LJLA

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) has today announced a change in leadership, with outgoing CEO Matthew Thomas taking up a senior position at the Vantage Airport Group, the previous owners of the airport.

Replacing Matthew will be Andrew Cornish who joins the Airport with an impressive track record and wealth of experience in the aviation industry, having spent five years as Managing Director at Manchester Airport and more recently as Chief Customer and Brand Officer at Irish airline Aer Lingus.

LJLA handled over 4.2 million passengers in 2013 with flights to over 50 destinations in the UK and across Europe and is known for its relaxed, hassle free environment and best in class operational performance.   The Airport is also one of Merseyside’s major employers, attracting inward investment and bringing significant tourism benefits, helping to boost the region’s economy. LJLA is a significant driver of prosperity in the Liverpool City Region and the North West as a whole, bringing an estimated £300 million per annum and supporting 4,750 jobs in the region.

Matthew Thomas who will leave the post at the end of September commented:  “Working for Liverpool John Lennon Airport has been a tremendous experience for me and this was always going to be a difficult decision, but having overseen the recent change in ownership and the subsequent smooth transition into The Peel Group, this was a good time for me to pursue new challenges with Vantage Airport Group.  The business is now in a great position to grow and I know that as I hand over the leadership to Andrew, the prospects for the Airport are excellent.”

New CEO Andrew Cornish added, “I have watched Liverpool’s progress carefully in recent years and with Peel’s investment back into the Airport I am very excited at being given the opportunity to now take the business forward. I am aware that much has been done by the staff at Liverpool to make it one of the UK’s best performing airports operationally.  I am keen to build upon this reputation, to grow passenger numbers back to the levels seen prior to the recession and to give the people of the City Region an airport they can be proud of.”

Airport Chairman Robert Hough commented: ”Matthew has been instrumental in moving the company forward materially during his time in charge and I would like to thank him for all he has achieved. We are naturally sorry to see him leave.  However I know the region will welcome Andrew in his new role as he uses his wealth of experience to help establish Liverpool as the airport of choice for passengers across the region.”